the coming race(一个即临种族)-第26章
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displeasure。
〃You have said it。〃
〃That would be a misfortune；〃 resumed my host； after a pause； 〃and I
feel you have acted as you ought in warning me。 It is； as you imply； not
uncommon for an unwedded Gy to conceive tastes as to the object she
covets which appear whimsical to others； but there is no power to compel
a young Gy to any course opposed to that which she chooses to pursue。
All we can to is to reason with her； and experience tells us that the whole
College of Sages would find it vain to reason with a Gy in a matter that
concerns her choice in love。 I grieve for you； because such a marriage
would be against the A…glauran； or good of the community； for the
children of such a marriage would adulterate the race： they might even
come into the world with the teeth of carnivorous animals； this could not
be allowed： Zee； as a Gy； cannot be controlled； but you； as a Tish； can be
destroyed。 I advise you； then； to resist her addresses； to tell her plainly
that you can never return her love。 This happens constantly。 Many an
An； however； ardently wooed by one Gy； rejects her； and puts an end to
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her persecution by wedding another。 The same course is open to you。〃
〃No； for I cannot wed another Gy without equally injuring the
community； and exposing it to the chance of rearing carnivorous children。〃
〃That is true。 All I can say； and I say it with the tenderness due to a
Tish； and the respect due to a guest； is frankly this… if you yield； you will
become a cinder。 I must leave it to you to take the best way you can to
defend yourself。 Perhaps you had better tell Zee that she is ugly。 That
assurance on the lips of him she woos generally suffices to chill the most
ardent Gy。 Here we are at my country…house。〃 115
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CHAPTER XXIII。
I confess that my conversation with Aph…Lin； and the extreme
coolness with which he stated his inability to control the dangerous
caprice of his daughter； and treated the idea of the reduction into a cinder
to which her amorous flame might expose my too seductive person； took
away the pleasure I should otherwise have had in the contemplation of my
host's country…seat； and the astonishing perfection of the machinery by
which his farming operations were conducted。 The house differed in
appearance from the massive and sombre building which Aph…Lin
inhabited in the city； and which seemed akin to the rocks out of which the
city itself had been hewn into shape。 The walls of the country…seat were
composed by trees placed a few feet apart from each other； the interstices
being filled in with the transparent metallic substance which serves the
purpose of glass among the Ana。 These trees were all in flower； and the
effect was very pleasing； if not in the best taste。 We were received at the
porch by life…like automata； who conducted us into a chamber； the like to
which I never saw before； but have often on summer days dreamily
imagined。 It was a bower… half room； half garden。 The walls were one
mass of climbing flowers。 The open spaces； which we call windows； and
in which； here； the metallic surfaces were slided back； commanded various
views； some； of the wide landscape with its lakes and rocks； some； of
small limited expanses answering to our conservatories； filled with tiers of
flowers。 Along the sides of the room were flower…beds； interspersed with
cushions for repose。 In the centre of the floor was a cistern and a
fountain of that liquid light which I have presumed to be naphtha。 It was
luminous and of a roseate hue； it sufficed without lamps to light up the
room with a subdued radiance。 All around the fountain was carpeted
with a soft deep lichen； not green （I have never seen that colour in the
vegetation of 116this country）； but a quiet brown； on which the eye
reposes with the same sense of relief as that with which in the upper world
it reposes on green。 In the outlets upon flowers （which I have compared
to our conservatories） there were singing birds innumerable； which； while
we remained in the room； sang in those harmonies of tune to which they
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are； in these parts； so wonderfully trained。 The roof was open。 The
whole scene had charms for every sense… music form the birds； fragrance
from the flowers； and varied beauty to the eye at every aspect。 About all
was a voluptuous repose。 What a place； methought； for a honeymoon； if
a Gy bride were a little less formidably armed not only with the rights of
woman； but with the powers of man！ But when one thinks of a Gy； so
learned； so tall； so stately； so much above the standard of the creature we
call woman as was Zee； no！ even if I had felt no fear of being reduced to a
cinder； it is not of her I should have dreamed in that bower so constructed
for dreams of poetic love。
The automata reappeared； serving one of those delicious liquids which
form the innocent wines of the Vril…ya。
〃Truly；〃 said I； 〃this is a charming residence； and I can scarcely
conceive why you do not settle yourself here instead of amid the gloomier
abodes of the city。〃
〃As responsible to the community for the administration of light； I am
compelled to reside chiefly in the city； and can only come hither for short
intervals。〃
〃But since I understand from you that no honours are attached to your
office； and it involves some trouble； why do you accept it？〃
〃Each of us obeys without question the command of the Tur。 He said；
'Be it requested that Aph…Lin shall be the Commissioner of Light；' so I had
no choice； but having held the office now for a long time； the cares； which
were at first unwelcome； have become； if not pleasing； at least endurable。
We are all formed by custom… even the difference of our race from the
savage is but the transmitted continuance of custom； which becomes；
117through hereditary descent； part and parcel of our nature。 You see
there are Ana who even reconcile themselves to the responsibilities of
chief magistrate； but no one would do so if his duties had not been
rendered so light； or if there were any questions as to compliance with his
requests。〃
〃Not even if you thought the requests unwise or unjust？〃
〃We do not allow ourselves to think so； and； indeed； everything goes
on as if each and all governed themselves according to immemorial
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custom。〃
〃When the chief magistrate dies or retires； how do you provide for his
successor？〃
〃The An who has discharged the duties of chief magistrate for many
years is the best person to choose one by whom those duties may be
understood； and he generally names his successor。〃
〃His son； perhaps？〃
〃Seldom that； for it is not an office any one desires or seeks； and a
father naturally hesitates to constrain his son。 But if the Tur himself
decline to make a choice； for fear it might be supposed that he owed some
grudge to the person on whom his choice would settle； then there are three
of the College of Sages who draw lots among themselves which shall have
the power to elect the chief。 We consider that the judgment of one An of
ordinary capacity is better than the judgment of three or more； however
wise they may be； for among three there would probably be disputes； and
where there are disputes； passion clouds judgment。 The worst choice
made by one who has no motive in choosing wrong； is better than the best
choice made by many who have many motives for not choosing right。〃
〃You reverse in your policy the maxims adopted in my country。〃
〃Are you all； in your country； satisfied with your governors？〃
〃All！ Certainly not； the governors that most please some are sure to
be those most displeasing to others。〃
〃Then our system is better than yours。〃 118 〃For you it may be； but
according to our system a Tish could not be reduced to a cinder if a female
compelled him to marry her； and as a Tish I sigh to return to my native
world。〃
〃Take courage； my dear little guest； Zee can't compel you to marry her。
She can only entice you to do so。 Don't be enticed。 Come and look
round my domain。〃
We went forth into a close； bordered with sheds； for though the Ana
keep no stock for food； there are some animals which they rear for milking
and others for shearing。 The former have no resemblance to our cows；
nor the latter to our sheep； nor do I believe such species exist amongst
them。 They use the milk of three varieties of animal： one resembles the
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antelope； but is much larger； being as tall as a camel； the other two are
smaller； and； though differing somewhat from each other； resemble no
creature I ever saw on earth。 They are very sleek and of rounded
proportions； their colour that of the dappled deer； with very mild
countenances and beautiful dark eyes。 The milk of these three creatures
differs in richness and taste。 It is usually diluted with water； and
flavoured with the juice of a peculiar and perfumed fruit； and in itself is
very nutritious and palatable。 The animal whose fleece serves them for
clothing and many other
